The diocese subpoenaed Ms. Shaw in connection with her coverage
of a lawsuit filed by Sime Braio of Shrewsbury.

The diocese, represented by lawyer James Gavin Reardon Jr. of Worcester,
argues that Massachusetts law does not protect Ms. Shaw from having
to testify and turn over her notes.

The T&G and Ms. Shaw have not shown any real possibility
of harm from her testimony and, in any event, the defendants and
the public have not only a need for, but a right to Ms. Shaw's evidence,
which right outweighs any harm to Ms. Shaw's interests that could
result, the motion states.

The Telegram & Gazette, through Worcester lawyer David M. Ianelli
of Bowditch & Dewey, argues that Massachusetts courts have held
that a reporter should not be compelled to testify unless the value
of the testimony outweighs the inevitable interference with
the functioning of the free press.

Requiring Ms. Shaw's testimony would also infringe upon her
right to protect confidential, unpublished information and would
unnecessarily intrude upon the editorial process.

The subpoena directs Ms. Shaw to bring with her any and all
correspondence, notes, memoranda, photographs, charts, drawings
and any and all materials in her possession regarding Mr.
Braio, Bishop Rueger, lawyer Daniel J. Shea of Houston and the allegations
made against the auxiliary bishop.

The newspaper has challenged the subpoena, which Editor Harry T.
Whitin has called a fishing expedition.

Earlier this month, the diocese deposed James J. Gribouski, a Worcester
lawyer who once represented Mr. Braio but declined to file suit
against Bishop Rueger on his behalf. Mr. Gribouski made that decision
after receiving a letter from a psychiatrist who evaluated Mr. Braio
and concluded that his symptoms could not be related to sexual abuse.

Ms. Shaw has interviewed the alleged victim and written several
news accounts of the lawsuit, filed on Mr. Braio's behalf in July
by Mr. Shea.

The T&G asserts that Ms. Shaw has a statutory privilege
to refuse to testify, the motion states. Massachusetts
has not enacted any 'press shield' statute. Furthermore, the Supreme
Judicial Court, when petitioned to adopt press shield rules, specifically
declined to do so.

It further states, Regardless of the order in which the defendants
choose to conduct discovery, they have an absolute right to depose
Ms. Shaw for the purpose of seeking evidence to impeach Sime Braio.
The law does not support the T&G's assertion that the defendant
has to take depositions of other witnesses first.

A hearing on the matter is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Monday at Worcester
Superior Court.

Mr. Braio's lawsuit alleges that Bishop Rueger, then a parish priest,
began sexually molesting him in the early 1960s when he was 13.
The suit alleges that the abuse resulted in behavior that landed
Mr. Braio, now 52, in the former Lyman School for Boys in Westboro.

The diocese has said its own investigation cleared Bishop Rueger
of any wrongdoing. Worcester District Attorney John J. Conte said
his office and state police investigators could not substantiate
the charges.

The diocese claims that on at least three occasions, Mr. Braio
attempted to extort up to $10,000 from church officials in exchange
for his silence on the matter. Mr. Conte's office is investigating
the diocese's accusations of extortion attempts.

Monsignor Thomas J. Sullivan in July said an unnamed local lawyer
relayed an attempt by Mr. Braio to extort money from the diocese.

In addition, another attempt at extortion came through a
local attorney, who no longer represents Mr. Braio, Monsignor
Sullivan said in a statement at the time. Bishop Daniel P. Reilly
had said the diocese might pursue criminal extortion charges against
Mr. Braio.
Monsignor Sullivan acknowledges meeting with Mr. Braio on May 10,
in my capacity as a member of the Initial Review Committee
of the Diocesan Pastoral Care Committee, and in an attempt to reach
out to a possible victim. That meeting happened after Mr.
Gribouski dropped Mr. Braio as a client and before Mr. Braio hired
Mr. Shea.

In a deposition taken in September by Mr. Shea, a neighbor who
lives downstairs from Mr. Braio said he overheard Mr. Braio's end
of a telephone conversation with the diocese in February. The neighbor,
Glen Alexander, claimed Mr. Braio did not discuss a cash settlement
with the diocese. He also said a man who appeared to be a priest
visited Mr. Braio in May and offered him a monetary settlement.